Arenado's 3-for-4 night leads Rox over Padres

DENVER -- Righty Chad Bettis struck out six in five innings as the Rockies earned a 7-4 victory on Friday night at Coors Field, a result that officially eliminated the Padres from postseason possibility in game No. 148.

Bettis (8-5), who gave up one run on six hits, improved to 3-1 with 3.29 ERA in five starts since returning from right-elbow inflammation, which cost him more than a month. Dustin Garneau -- a catcher who worked with Bettis for much of his Minor League career, and ushered him through Friday -- delivered a two-run double in a three-run Rockies' second against Padres starter Ian Kennedy (8-15). Jose Reyes knocked a two-run single in the three-run seventh, and Nolan Arenado improved his National League-leading RBI total to 112..

"To be where I am now is nice, it [resting the elbow] was worth it," Bettis said.

Wil Myers gave the Padres brief life in the seventh with a one-out solo homer off Rockies reliever Justin Miller, whose scoreless streak ended at 6 2/3 innings.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Quick fix: Bettis found trouble by giving up a leadoff double to Melvin Upton Jr., and hitting the next batter, Derek Norris, in the fourth. But Bettis, who gains strength from working fast and controlling the pace, struck out Cory Spangenberg, forced a grounder from Kennedy and a fly ball from Myers.

Video: SD@COL: Bettis fans Kennedy to escape a jam

Double your pleasure: Something about the Rockies brings out the best in Padres' center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. He had two doubles Friday, marking the second time this month he's pulled off that feat against Colorado. He also did so on Sept. 9 in a game at Petco Park. Overall, five of his eight doubles this season have come against the Rockies. He later added a single.

When he swings, people score: Rockies catcher Garneau had two hits to bring his total to eight since he debuted Aug. 20. His two-run double in the second brought his RBI total to eight.

"I'm very impressed with his mentality and the way he has stepped in and been able to control the game back there," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said.

Video: SD@COL: Garneau rips a two-run double to left field

Pop at the top: Myers hit a solo home run in the seventh inning for his eighth home run of the season -- all coming out of the leadoff spot. It was also his third since coming off the disabled list on Sept. 4. Myers missed 98 games earlier this season due to injury issues with his left wrist.

"He's still getting second Spring Training, so to speak, and holding his own. It's good for him to finish strong," said Padres interim manager Pat Murphy. "I think he's a real key [moving forward]."

Video: SD@COL: Myers belts a solo home run to center

QUOTABLE
"I was kind of erratic with everything. Early on, I was trying to find it. The first couple innings, I was trying to find it and it showed." -- Kennedy, who allowed four runs (three earned) in six innings. All four runs came in the first three innings

Video: SD@COL: Kennedy strikes out Dickerson swinging

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Rockies veteran first baseman Justin Morneau has a career full of accomplishments, such as the 2006 American League Most Valuable Player Award with the Twins and the National League batting title last year with the Rockies. But he achieved a first Friday night with his sixth-inning triple off of Kennedy. Morneau tripled in his last appearance, the 16-inning Rockies victory over the Dodgers on Tuesday. It marked the first time in his career he has tripled in consecutive games.

LEAKY 'PEN
With those three earned runs allowed in the seventh inning Friday, the Padres' bullpen has a 6.44 ERA in September (59 1/3 innings).

"It's been tough. Everything we've been trying, nothing seems to be working," Murphy said. "We haven't found the right combination. We're searching and searching, trying to get through those innings."

WHAT'S NEXT
Padres: Left-hander Robbie Erlin makes his season debut for the Padres in the second game of three-game series Saturday at 5:10 p.m. PT. It will be his second career appearance against the Rockies and second start at Coors Field. Erlin spent the entire 2015 season at Triple-A El Paso, going 7-6 with a 5.60 ERA in 24 starts.

Rockies: Lefty Yohan Flande gave the rotation a lift when he was added in late July, but in his last two starts he has lasted just 4 1/3 and 3 2/3 innings. Flande hopes to pitch solidly Saturday against the Padres.

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